Thiruvananthapuram : Getting Smita Menon to attend minister-level meeting held in UAE runs against law, said former diplomat and ambassador KP Fabian. Traveling to UAE on visit visa and participating in an official meet amounts to unlawful act, affirmed KP Fabian in an televised interview on Kairali channel.
Visit visa in any country is meant for tourism purposes alone. A person availing this visa cannot participate in official events or engage in activities beyond scope of tourism abroad. If that happens, the concerned individual is liable to face charges even on return to India, said KP Fabian.
When a minister undertakes trip abroad for official purposes, he is required to apply for govt consent via letter. Such letter should specify details of people who would accompany him and also the timeline of the proposed tour. The letter is forwarded to the Finance Department for processing. Incidentally, PR agency representatives are not allowed among minister’s escorts on such official visits and a violation on this account can be questioned by the Finance Department, said the veteran diplomat.
